biochemical processes that correct accidental changes in the DNA due to errors in replication or external factors such as UV radiation

How frequent are mutations in DNA sequence?

once every 10^9 nucleotides

3 main steps to DNA replication

1. Strand separation

2. DNA templating

3. DNA polymerization

DNA is synthesized from the ___ to the ____ direction.

5' to 3' direction ONLY!

DNA polymerase

enzyme that synthesizes DNA by joining nucleotides together using DNA as a template as guide.

DNA Primase

Enzyme that synthesizes a short strand of RNA on a DNA template, producing a primer for DNA synthesis

What enzyme catalyzes DNA synthesis?

DNA polymerases

What must be added to a template strand before the polymerases can attach?

RNA primer strand

replication fork

Y-shaped region of a replicating DNA molecule at which the two daughter strands are formed and separate.

Which strand of DNA has continuous replication?

Leading strand

Which strand of DNA is discontinously replicated?

lagging strand

lagging strand

a discontinuously synthesized DNA strand that elongates by means of Okazaki fragments, each synthesized in a 5' to 3' direction away from the replication fork. The Okazaki fragments are later joined covalently by ligase

leading strand

the new complementary DNA strand synthesized continuously along the template strand toward the replication fork in the mandatory 5' to 3' direction

DNA ligase

enzyme that joins (ligates) two DNA molecules together end to end through phosphodiester bonds. This is how the okasaki fragments are joined.